Two-dimensional shoe manufacturing

ABSTRACT

Described are methods for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as shoes manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes includes providing a plurality of first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes, and moving the plurality of first shoe components with a transport means which is at least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/514,081, filed on Oct. 14, 2014, entitled TWO-DIMENSIONAL SHOEMANUFACTURING (allowed), which is related to and claims prioritybenefits from German Patent Application No. DE 10 2013 221 018.3, filedon Oct. 16, 2013, entitled SPEEDFACTORY 2D (“the 018 application”), eachof which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by thisreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of aplurality of shoes, an apparatus to perform such method, as well asshoes manufactured by such method.

BACKGROUND

The manufacture and sale of sportswear entails a significant number ofnew product designs each year for manufacturers, which are essential tokeep pace with the latest developments on the market or to promotedevelopment itself. Such designs comprise shoes, textiles andaccessories in a plurality of models, designs, production options,coloring, sizing, etc., for example. In this regard, most of the newproducts are designed, modeled and tested digitally by 3D CAD/FEA(finite element analysis) systems today.

In order to bring a new product on the market, first samples are firstmade manually from the digital design drafts, typically in factorieslocated at a different place than the development department that isresponsible for the product design. As a result, it is often only aftershipment, often via ship containers, and receipt of the real samplesthat the product designers are able to further optimize their digitaldrafts and return them to the factories. This process is repeated untilthe samples have the desired functionality, design, cost and quality andcan then be released for serial production in the factories. Thisprocess often takes several weeks to months until a result is reached,and the entire delivery chain is very inflexible. Thus, a manufactureris only able to react slowly to fast-moving, fashion market trends anddemands. The benefit regarding speed gained by the use of CAD/FEAsystems throughout is lost by the overall slow production processes bythe factories all over the world.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to providemanufacturing methods and production means that allow to prompt,automatic, and/or local manufacture of a plurality of differentprototypes and the like in order to proceed from the “idea to theproduct” more rapidly. Further, it is desirable that the manufacture ofindividual items, in particular customized individual items, small-scaleseries, or series be possible in an uninterrupted manner and be freelyscalable so that the production of a (small-scale) series may be merelyx times a single production step.

SUMMARY

The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “thepresent invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly toall of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below.Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit thesubject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of thepatent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patentare defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is ahigh-level overview of various embodiments of the invention andintroduces some of the concepts that are further described in theDetailed Description section below. This summary is not intended toidentify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor isit intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of theclaimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood byreference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of thispatent, any or all drawings and each claim.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method forthe manufacture of a plurality of shoes comprises providing a pluralityof first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes,wherein at least one of the plurality of first shoe components isconfigured for a different shoe model from at least a second one of theplurality of first shoe components, moving the plurality of first shoecomponents with a transport belt comprising the plurality of first shoecomponents, and providing the plurality of shoes, wherein at least oneof the plurality of shoes is a different shoe model from at least asecond one of the plurality of shoes, wherein the method runs in anautomated manner without manual intervention.

Providing the plurality of first shoe components for the manufacture ofthe plurality of shoes may comprise unrolling a spool comprising thetransport belt and the plurality of first shoe components. In theseembodiments, the transport belt and the plurality of first shoecomponents may be integrally manufactured together.

In some embodiments, the transport belt comprises flat regions, whereinthe flat regions comprise one or more of the plurality of first shoecomponents. The transport belt may also comprise a textile basematerial. In certain embodiments, the textile base material comprisesweft knitting, warp knitting, weaving, felting, needle punching,electro-spinning, or cross-plying of a source material. In otherembodiments, the transport belt may comprise a base material whichcomprises a foil, a film, a synthetic composite, a multilayer laminateand/or leather.

Each of the plurality of first shoe components may comprise at least apart of a shoe upper.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method forthe manufacture of a plurality of shoes comprises providing a pluralityof first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes,wherein at least one of the plurality of first shoe components isconfigured for a different shoe model from at least a second one of theplurality of first shoe components, moving the plurality of first shoecomponents with a transport belt comprising the plurality of first shoecomponents, passing the transport belt through at least one processingstation, processing at least a subset of the plurality of first shoecomponents in the at least one processing station, and providing theplurality of shoes, wherein at least one of the plurality of shoes is adifferent shoe model from at least a second one of the plurality ofshoes, wherein the method runs in an automated manner without manualintervention.

In certain embodiments, processing at least the subset of the pluralityof first shoe components in the at least one processing stationcomprises performing at least one of the following processing steps:screen printing, digital printing, dye sublimation, sublimationprinting, pad printing, spraying on color, applying at least onecolor-changing material, applying at least one foil element,impregnating with a material, coating with a material, applying at leastone glue, flocking, laser cutting, laser engraving, embroidering,thermoforming, locally melting, locally fusing, embossing, laseretching, or perfing.

In additional embodiments, processing at least the subset of theplurality of first shoe components in the at least one processingstation comprises adding at least one second shoe component to at leastthe subset of the plurality of first shoe components. The at least onesecond shoe component may comprise at least one of an eyelet, heel cap,toe cap, decoration element, decoration stripe, friction element,abrasion protection element, rib element, reinforcement element,stiffening element, supporting element, cushioning element, or fiberelement. In some embodiments, the at least one second shoe component isadded to each of the subset of the plurality of first shoe components byat least one of gluing, welding, high frequency welding, ultrasonicwelding, laser welding, pressing, sewing, screwing, riveting, meltingtogether, clipping together, sealing, subjecting to a heat and pressuretreatment, or subjecting to a steaming treatment.

In further embodiments, processing at least the subset of the pluralityof first shoe components in the at least one processing stationcomprises separating at least the subset of the plurality of first shoecomponents from the transport belt. Separating the plurality of firstshoe components from the transport belt may comprise performing at leastone of the following processing steps: die cutting, CNC cutting, lasercutting, water jet cutting, melting out of a connecting element, ordissolving a connecting element.

According to some embodiments, passing the transport belt through the atleast one processing station comprises forming the plurality of firstshoe components into three-dimensional shapes. The plurality of firstshoe components may each comprise a shaping element configured tofacilitate forming each of the plurality of first shoe components intothe three-dimensional shape. In certain embodiments, forming each of theplurality of first shoe components into the three-dimensional shape maycomprise arranging each of the plurality of first shoe components on arespective last.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of first shoe componentscomprise at least a part of a shoe upper.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method forthe manufacture of a plurality of shoes comprises providing a pluralityof first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes,wherein at least one of the plurality of first shoe components isconfigured for a different shoe model from at least a second one of theplurality of first shoe components, moving the plurality of first shoecomponents with a transport means comprising the plurality of first shoecomponents, and providing the plurality of shoes, wherein at least oneof the plurality of shoes is a different shoe model from at least asecond one of the plurality of shoes, wherein the method runs in anautomated manner without manual intervention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, various embodiments of thepresent invention are described with reference to the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating a method of manufacture of aplurality of shoes, according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a method/apparatus for the manufactureof a plurality of shoes, according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a method/apparatus for the manufactureof a plurality of shoes, according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus arranged inside atransparent container, according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 are front and perspective views of a portable sales standcomprising an apparatus for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes,according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a business premises comprising anapparatus for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes, according tocertain embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, this objectis at least partially achieved by a method for the manufacture of aplurality of shoes which comprises providing a plurality of first shoecomponents for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes and moving theplurality of the first shoe components with a transport means which isat least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components.

It has to be pointed out here already that although the embodiments ofthe invention are described in relation to sports shoes in thefollowing, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.Rather, the present invention can also be used for other types ofsportswear, e.g. shirts, pants, gloves, etc. In addition, the inventionmay also be applied to the manufacture of sports equipment, such asballs, bags, backpacks, helmets, heads, belts, and other kind ofaccessories.

Moreover, embodiments of the method according to the invention may alsorun automatically to a large extent as well as that a certain amount ofmanual support work is carried out.

That is, embodiments of a method according to the invention may becarried out, at least predominantly, by robots, robotic systems orautomated systems and/or the embodiments can include a certain amount ofhuman (support) work. The robots, robotic systems or automated systemsmay further by equipped with hardware and/or software specificallyadapted to the respective tasks or they may be general-purpose machines.

First of all, the provision of a plurality of first shoe componentsallows a subsequent individualization of the shoes to be manufactured bya suitable selection of further processing steps and processingparameters, for example from a plurality of the processing optionsdiscussed in the following. Taking the provided first shoe components asa basis and without these having to be already specifically manufacturedfor a corresponding shoe model and manually inserted into a machine, themanufacture of diversely designed shoes is thus possible in a mannerthat is automated to a large extent. In this regard, manufacture may,for example, be controlled directly via a computer, e.g. taking the CADshoe models created on the computer as a basis.

In particular, the above mentioned further processing steps andprocessing parameters may be determined based on the computer generatedshoe model or models. Herein, the determination of the necessaryprocessing steps/parameters may be performed by the same computer onwhich the shoe models were generated. In this regard, “computer”comprises computers in the conventional sense as well as laptops,tablets, smartphones and other such portable or stationary devices. Orthe data underlying the respective shoe model or models are sent to acontrol device by the computer, which then determines the necessarysequence of processing steps and the processing parameters to producesuch shoes and controls the manufacture accordingly.

Such a computer could, for example, be located in some kind of “kiosk”,where a potential customer can select or design a computer-generatedshoe model and then cause the manufacture of a corresponding pair ofshoes. Another possibility would be a fully automatic vending machine acustomer could access also outside shopping hours, create his or her ownshoe model, and have the corresponding shoe, or pair of shoes,manufactured at the spot for take away. This would allow selling andproduction of shoes in all areas outside opening hours, e.g. in cities,at airports, etc.

It is furthermore desirable in certain circumstances that the first shoecomponents form at least a portion of the transport means which is usedto move the first shoe components to subject them sequentially to theselected processing steps referred to above, for example. This makes thenecessity of a separate transport means, such as a band conveyor, atleast partially redundant, on the one hand. On the other hand, the firstshoe components may be integrated into the transport means or connectedto it such that shifting, distorting, falling down, etc. of the firstshoe components may be prevented, which significantly extends thepossibilities for automated manufacture. This is the case, for example,because pliable materials, in particular textile pliable materials,which are typically difficult to be grasped or fixated by machine, areoften used in the manufacture of shoes.

The transport means may comprise flat regions, wherein the flat regionscomprise at least one of the first shoe components. The transport meansmay further comprise a transport belt.

Providing the first shoe components as part of at least one flat regionof the transport means allows, in a particularly simple manner,processing the first shoe components, as further described below, bymachine/robot/robotic systems and in a manner that is automated to alarge extent. In this context, it is possible to manufacture a pluralityof different shoe types and models by individually selecting at leastone of the processing options described below. In this regard, atransport belt may be desirable with respect to automated, independent,continuous manufacture of shoes.

The transport belt may be rolled off a spool which comprises a pluralityof first shoe components.

By rolling the transport belt off a spool, manual placement of the firstshoe components becomes redundant to a large extent, which promotesautomation of the manufacturing method. Only if, for example, a spoolruns short and/or a spool with different first shoe components is to beused, does a new spool have to be inserted into a production means.However, this may also be carried out automatically. For example, therespective spool can automatically be taken from a spool stock and thenbe inserted into a production means. If desired, the transport belt maybe supported by a conveyer belt within a production site to furtherfacilitate manufacture.

In certain embodiments, the transport belt may be placed in a storagecontainer in a folded manner and is taken from the latter. Themanufacturing process could, for example, be sheet-based, e.g. whenleather or other sheet-based materials are employed that may be takenfrom a sheet stock. Such a sheet based manufacturing process might bebeneficial for more rigid materials like polycarbonates or composites,etc., and there may be other benefits for using sheet stock over rollsin smaller scale in-store customized manufacturing, for example. Theindividual sheets could, for example, be connected by a flexiblematerial like paper and be stored in form of a sheet stock as describedabove, from which they are taken one after the other.

In certain embodiments, providing a plurality of first shoe componentsfor the manufacture of the plurality of shoes comprises the jointproduction of the transport means with the plurality of first shoecomponents.

This allows even greater flexibility of the method, since for examplechanging or renewing the spool as described above may be omitted.Rather, the transport means together with the first shoe components maybe provided directly as desired in each case. This may also entailmaterial reduction since the design of the transport means may beadjusted to the respective shape of the first shoe components.

The transport means may further comprise a textile base material. Thisparticularly applies for the first shoe components. In this regard, themanufacture of the textile base material may further comprise weftknitting, warp knitting, weaving, felting, needle punching,electro-spinning or cross-plying of a source material.

Today, textile materials play an important role in the sporting goodsindustry. It may be desirable in certain embodiments if particularly thefirst shoe components comprise a textile material. Further, if theentire transport means comprises a textile material, e.g. the same or asimilar textile material as the first shoe components, the first shoecomponents may be fixed to the transport means or integrated into itparticularly well. This is particularly applicable for the case in whichproviding a plurality of first shoe components comprises the jointproduction of the transport means with the plurality of first shoecomponents. For the manufacture of the textile base material and, ifapplicable, the entire transport means, the techniques of weft knitting,warp knitting, weaving, felting, needle punching, electro-spinning, orcross-plying of a source material come into consideration, since thetextile materials manufactured by these techniques are able to providecertain desirable properties for the manufacture of shoes. Examples ofsuch properties include high stability, low weight and goodbreathability as well as suitability for printing, suitability forapplication of markers for handling or post-processing and suitabilityfor post-processing treatment.

In certain embodiments, the transport means comprises a base materialwhich comprises a foil, a film, a synthetic composite, a multilayerlaminate and/or leather. This particularly applies for the first shoecomponents.

The foil, film, synthetic composite, multilayer laminate and/or leathermay serve the purpose of attributing further desirable properties to thefirst shoe components or the transport means, such as higher stability,abrasion resistance, increased wear comfort, weight reduction, etc., forexample.

At this point it is mentioned that whenever the singular (i.e. “a foil”,etc.) is used in this application, the plural is always also included,unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The transport means may also pass through at least one processingstation in which the first shoe components are processed.

For example, the first shoe components may automatically be transportedto at least one processing station, in which they are further processed.In certain embodiments, for example, individual first shoe componentsmay pass through at least one processing station without being processedfurther there, so that an individual sequence of processing steps may beconfigured for every first shoe component as a result. A plurality ofprocessing steps may be carried out within one processing station, withthe exact sequence of processing steps and processing parameters to beindividually adjusted for every first shoe component. All this mayhappen automatically to a large extent.

In the at least one processing station, at least one of the followingprocessing steps may be performed: screen printing, digital printing,dye sublimation, sublimation printing, pad printing, spraying on color,applying at least one color-changing material, applying at least onefoil element, impregnating with a material, coating with a material,applying at least one glue, flocking, laser cutting, laser engraving,embroidering, thermoforming, locally melting, locally fusing, embossing,laser etching, perfing.

It is therefore possible to individually impart a plurality of e.g.physical, optical and haptic properties onto the first shoe components,without a modification of a production means or an alteration of themethod becoming necessary for this. Furthermore, apertures for shoelacesor better ventilation may be made, for example.

The at least one processing station may also add at least one secondshoe component respectively to each of at least a subset of the firstshoe components.

By adding at least one second shoe component to at least one of thefirst shoe component, the number of possible manufacture forms which maybe manufactured by certain embodiments of the present method isincreased further. In this regard, the addition of at least one secondshoe component and the above-mentioned processing steps which may becarried out in the at least one processing station complement eachother, so that the resulting possible selection from differentcombinations of processing possibilities and processing stepssignificantly increases the number of producible designs once more.

The at least one second shoe component may comprise at least one of thefollowing shoe elements: eyelets, heel caps, toe caps, decorationelements, decoration stripes, friction elements, abrasion protectionelements, rib elements, reinforcement elements, stiffening elements,supporting elements, cushioning elements, fiber elements.

On the one hand, such functional and decorating elements can serve thepurpose of influencing the wearing properties of a shoe so that theindividually controllable addition of such components allows producing aplurality of shoes for the most different purposes by certainembodiments of the present method. Moreover, they may further influencethe overall shape, anatomical customization to a future wearer andgeneral appearance of the shoes.

The at least one processing station may also be provided to connect thesecond shoe components with the respective first shoe components by atleast one of the following steps: gluing, welding, high frequencywelding, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, pressing, sewing, screwing,riveting, melting together, clipping together, sealing, subjecting to aheat and pressure treatment, and/or subjecting to a steaming treatment.

Depending on the materials of the first and/or second shoe components,at least one of the above-mentioned connecting methods may be used inthis regard. This allows optimally adjusting the connecting method(s) tothe respective properties of the shoe to be currently manufactured andthe materials used and thus guaranteeing good stability.

The at least one processing station may moreover be provided to separatethe first and/or second shoe components from the transport means.

This allows, if necessary, removing the first and/or second shoecomponents from the transport means for further processing elsewhere orfor packaging for shipping or the like. The separation particularlyallows subsequently putting the first and/or second shoe components intoa three-dimensional shape.

It is possible, for example, that the separation of the first and/or thesecond shoe components may comprise at least one of the following steps:die cutting, CNC cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, melting outof a connecting element, and/or dissolving a connecting element.

These possibilities are particularly suitable for automated productionsince they may be or are already adjusted to the object that iscurrently to be separated in a very flexible and individual manner.

Furthermore, the at least one processing station may also be provided toput the first shoe components and/or second shoe components into athree-dimensional shape.

This may be carried out after the first and/or second shoe componentshave been separated from the transport means. By three-dimensionalshaping, the first and/or second shoe components may already be put intotheir final shape, which they will also have in the completelymanufactured shoe, or they may be given a preliminary shape, which willthen be changed in further processing steps.

In some embodiments, the first shoe components and/or second shoecomponents, or at least some of them, may comprise a shaping elementwhich is provided to facilitate the generation of the three-dimensionalshape.

Due to the fact that textile, pliable materials, for example, aredifficult to handle automatically or by machine, this offers a furtherpossibility of supporting automated production. For example, the firstand/or second shoe components, or some of them, may have a respectiverubber-band element or spring element which is under strain beforeseparation from the transport means, which puts the respective firstand/or second shoe component into a three-dimensional preliminary shapeafter separation, and thus facilitates further processing, e.g. a finalthree-dimensional shaping.

Three-dimensional shaping can further comprise arranging the first shoecomponents, together with their respective second shoe components ifpresent (i.e. if previously added), on a respective last each.

This ensures that the three-dimensional shaping is carried out in thedesired manner, without the occurrence of undesired deformations such asbulges, corners, edges, distortions or warping in the material of thefirst and/or second shoe component, for example. The arrangement on alast additionally allows further transporting the three-dimensionallyshaped first shoe components, together with their potentially addedrespective second shoe components, in a simple manner, if necessary.

The first shoe components may comprise at least a part of a shoe upper.

Taking at least a part of shoe upper as a basis is particularlybeneficial for building the shoe stepwise by further processing steps asdescribed herein.

At this point, it is explicitly pointed out that the exact selection ofprocessing steps from the available processing options and theirsequence can in certain embodiments of the inventive method becontrolled individually for every first shoe component provided, andthat a further individual selection may additionally be possible withineach processing step. It is, for example, possible for the number andtype of the second shoe components to be individually selected, for thedecoration and optical design to be individually determined, etc.

A further aspect of the invention is an apparatus provided forperforming certain embodiments of an inventive method.

With certain embodiments of such an apparatus, a plurality ofdifferently designed shoes may be manufactured automatically to a largeextent, as already discussed above, starting from the first shoecomponents provided.

The apparatus may also comprise a control means for the manufacture ofdifferent shoes with certain embodiments of one of the methods describedherein. The control means may comprise an interface for interaction withat least one future wearer of one of the plurality of shoes in thiscontext.

The control means can, for example, have recourse to at least onecomputer-generated shoe model, e.g. CAD models, and determine therequired sequence and/or rearrangement of processing steps andprocessing parameters from these models. Thereafter, the control meanscan cause the transport means and/or the at least one processing stationto move, place or process a given first shoe component such that a shoecorresponding to the computer-generated shoe model is manufactured. Inthe process, the control means can individually determine the sequenceand/or rearrangement of processing steps and processing parameters foreach first shoe component provided, for example in the manufacture ofprototypes or whenever a future wearer of the shoe has “tailor-madeshoes” manufactured by an input via the interface. Alternatively, thesequence of processing steps and processing parameters is determined fora plurality, e.g. a plurality of successive, first shoe components, forexample for production in (small-scale) series.

The method may particularly run in an automated manner to a large extentin a manufacturing or processing apparatus (see below), without manualintervention or an alteration of the apparatus being necessary for themanufacture of different shoe models or prototypes.

The apparatus may be arranged inside a movable container. In certainembodiments, the container is at least partially transparent.

This allows transportation and provision of the apparatus directly “onsite”, for example at sporting events or in a sales outlet, etc. Apurchaser may then, particularly in combination with the aforementionedinterface for interaction, “put together” a desired shoe model directlyat the site of the apparatus or even beforehand via the internet or thelike, this model then being manufactured by the portable manufacturingdevice. If the container is partially transparent, the customer can evenwatch the shoes being manufactured. In addition, the process could becaptured by video and live broadcasted in digital medianetworks/channels.

A further aspect of the present invention involves a shoe, the shoehaving been manufactured using certain embodiments of a method accordingto the invention.

As already repeatedly mentioned, it is possible, in this respect, foreach of the plurality of shoes manufactured to be individuallycustomized and modified, for example based on a design of a developmentdesigner, a wearer's anatomy or even based on a customer's wishes.

At this point, it should again be explicitly pointed out that forembodiments of an inventive method, embodiments of an inventiveapparatus and/or embodiments of an inventive shoe a plurality of designpossibilities and embodiments disclosed herein may be combined with oneanother depending on the specific requirements. Individual options anddesign possibilities described herein can also be disregarded where theyappear to be dispensable for the respective method, the respectiveapparatus or the shoe to be manufactured, with the resulting embodimentsstill being part of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is describedhere with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but thisdescription is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of theclaims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, mayinclude different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction withother existing or future technologies. This description should not beinterpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among orbetween various steps or elements except when the order of individualsteps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

Certain embodiments of the invention are described in the followingdetailed description with regard to sports shoes. The present inventionis not, however, limited to these embodiments. Rather, the presentinvention may also be used in other types of sportswear, e.g. sportsshirts, sports pants, gloves, etc.

FIG. 1 shows certain embodiments of a method 100 according to theinvention for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes 198. In certainembodiments, the method 100 first comprises the following steps:providing a plurality of first shoe components 110 for the manufactureof a plurality of shoes 198, wherein at least one of the plurality offirst shoe components 110 is configured for a different shoe model fromat least a second one of the plurality of first shoe components 110,moving the plurality of first shoe components 110 with a transport means120, which at least partially comprises the plurality of first shoecomponents 110, and providing the plurality of shoes 198, wherein atleast one of the plurality of shoes 198 is a different shoe model fromat least a second one of the plurality of shoes 198, wherein the methodruns in an automated manner without manual intervention.

In the method 100 shown in FIG. 1, the first shoe components 110 areparts of shoe uppers 190. In other embodiments, the first shoecomponents 1100 may be parts of other shoe components, e.g. sole units192 or the like.

The transport means 120 comprises flat regions 122, wherein the flatregions 122 comprise at least one of the first shoe components 110. Incertain embodiments of the method 100, as shown in FIG. 1, each flatregion 122 comprises one first shoe component 110. However, in otherembodiments, at least one flat region 122 may comprise a plurality offirst shoe components 110, wherein the number of first shoe components110 per flat region 122 may vary as needed or desired. In certainembodiments, at least one of the plurality of first shoe components 110may be configured for a different shoe model from at least a second oneof the plurality of first shoe components 110.

In the method 100, as shown in FIG. 1, the transport means 120 isfurther provided as transport belt 120. A person of ordinary skill inthe relevant art will understand that the transport means 120 may be anysuitable conveying device including but not limited to air tables,gravity roller conveyors, band conveyors, belt conveyors, bucketconveyors, vibrating conveyors, chain conveyors, screw conveyors,robotic arms or the like which grips the workpiece, or other similarmechanical, pneumatic, and/or electrical conveying devices.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the transport belt 120 and the plurality offirst shoe components 110 may be provided by unrolling a spool 125comprising the transport belt 120 and the plurality of first shoecomponents 110. In this context, it may be desirable in certainembodiments that the transport means 120 and the plurality of first shoecomponents 110 are integrally manufactured together. In otherembodiments, the transport means 120 and the plurality of first shoecomponents 110 may be manufactured separately and subsequently joinedtogether and rolled to form a spool 125.

In this regard, the transport means 120 and particularly the first shoecomponents 110 may comprise a textile base material, for example. Themanufacture of the textile base material may entail, for example, weftknitting, warp knitting, weaving, as well as felting, needle punching,electro-spinning, cross-plying or other methods for the manufacture ofnonwoven material, and both natural and synthetic base materials may beused. In other embodiments, the transport means 120 and particularly thefirst shoe components 110 may comprise synthetic materials, leather,foils, films, synthetic composites, multilayered laminates, carrierfoils or dissolvable materials. Such dissolvable materials could beremoved again, e.g. in a later processing step, and thus serve assupport material.

It is also possible for the transport means 120 and particularly some orall of the first shoe components 110 to comprise a shaping element,which is provided to facilitate a subsequent step of adding athree-dimensional shape to the first shoe components 110. This shapingelement may comprise, for example, a type of rubber, elastic orshape-memory material, which assumes a desired three-dimensional shapeunder the influence of energy and/or heat, for example. It is furtherpossible for the shaping element to remain in the shoe to bemanufactured as a structural element. Alternatively, the shaping elementmay also be removed after the three-dimensional shaping of the firstshoe components 110 is complete.

When the transport means 120 and particularly the first shoe components110 comprise a woven, warp-knitted and/or weft-knitted material,different yarns may be used in different regions to influence thefunctionality of the shoes 198 to be manufactured. These yarns may, forexample, be yarns comprising thermoplastic material that arethermo-formable, elastic yarns, metallic yarns, rubber yarns, bio-basedyarns, etc.

In certain embodiments, different colors, shapes and functions, such ase.g. ventilation apertures, may be added at this stage. The transportmeans 120 and the first shoe components 110 may also be provided indifferent thicknesses to achieve a cushioning effect, for example. Thetransport means 120 and the first shoe components 110 may, for example,be weft-knitted, warp-knitted or woven with thicker yarn and/or a morevoluminous patterns in places that will eventually form parts of thefinished shoes 198 in which the wearer's foot is to be protected fromdiscomfort caused by pressure points at the edge of inelastic materialsor the effect of excessively strong force, e.g. when kicking a ball. Thespool 125 may be manufactured in various sizes, depending on the size ofthe shoes 198 to be manufactured.

According to certain embodiments of the method 100, as shown in FIG. 1,the transport means 120 also passes through at least one processingstation in which the first shoe components 110 are processed. FIG. 1shows three processing stations 130, 140 and 150.

In the processing station 130, at least one of the following processingsteps is performed to at least a subset of the plurality of first shoecomponents 110: screen printing, digital printing, dye sublimation,sublimation printing, pad printing, spraying on color, applying at leastone color-changing material, applying at least one foil element,impregnating with a material, coating with a material, applying at leastone glue, flocking, laser cutting, laser engraving, embroidering,thermoforming, locally melting, locally fusing, embossing, laseretching, 3-D printing, and/or perfing. Thus, for example, it is possibleto spray pigments on the first shoe components 110 first and then applyglue in various regions or patterns. In doing so, the glue bonds withthe pigments. Subsequently, a transfer paper, for example, may beapplied, which also adheres to the glue, and when this transfer paper issubsequently removed, the glue and the pigments adhering thereto aretherefore also removed. As a result, the regions in which no glue wasapplied are colored. A material, e.g. color, may also be applied allover the first shoe components 110, but only activated locally, e.g. byapplying heat or energy. A further possibility involves applyingpigments that change color depending on a magnetic field applied. Thesepigments may be embedded in a plastic carrier, a thermoplastic carriermaterial or in microcapsules.

In certain embodiments of the method 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1, whenthe transport belt 120 passes through the processing station 140, atleast one second shoe component 180 is added to each of at least asubset of the first shoe components 110. It is to be noted here that, inFIG. 1, each of the first shoe components 110 is shown prior toperformance of the respective processing steps within the associatedprocessing station. Therefore, the result of each such processing stepcan only be seen “one station later.”

Whether at least one second shoe component 180 is added to a given firstshoe component 110 may be controlled individually for each first shoecomponent 110. The at least one second shoe component 180 may compriseat least one of the following shoe elements: an eyelet, heel cap, toecap, decoration element, decoration stripe, friction element, abrasionprotection element, rib element, reinforcement element, stiffeningelement, supporting element, cushioning element, fiber element. The atleast one second shoe component 180 may comprise as many of these shoeelements in any suitable combination as needed or desired.

In certain embodiments, the second shoe components 180 may beprefabricated and applied to the first shoe components 110 at theprocessing station 140. Suction elements, gripping elements or magneticinstruments, for example, may be used for the application. It is alsopossible for the second shoe components 180 to be provided on a separatecarrier film. In some embodiments, the second shoe components 180 may beapplied to the first shoe components 110 by a printing method. Infurther embodiments, glue may be applied to the first shoe components110 in particular regions, and fibers or such elements may besubsequently applied to these particular regions. Superfluous fibers,which did not bond with the glue, may subsequently be blown off, forexample. Some or all of the second shoe components 180 may also comprisea shaping element, as already mentioned above, which facilitatesimparting a three-dimensional shape to the first shoe components 110.

Before applying at least a second shoe component 180 to a respectivefirst shoe component 110, the first and second components 110, 180 maybe aligned relative to each other to achieve a correct placement of thesecond component(s) 180 on the first component 110. This alignment maybe aided or performed by using markers, recognition of differentmaterial characteristics or pattern recognition. The whole process couldfurthermore be controlled with digital processing of images. Forexample, digital cameras may be installed along the manufacturing laneand the images get processed to determine the size and orientation ofthe different shoe components.

According to certain embodiments, the first shoe components 110 of themethod 100, as shown in FIG. 1, further pass through a third processingstation 150. In the station 150, a consolidating or connecting method isperformed to connect the second shoe components 180 with the respectivefirst shoe components 110 by at least one of the following processingsteps: gluing, welding, high frequency welding, ultrasonic welding,laser welding, pressing, sewing, screwing, riveting, melting together,clipping together, sealing, subjecting to a heat and pressure treatment,and/or subjecting to a steaming treatment.

For example, the first shoe components 110 and the second shoecomponents 180 may be subjected to pressure and heat so that alladhesive layers present are activated, creating a resilient connectionbetween the various layers. Also, there could be a number of separateheat pressing steps, for example two heat pressing steps or four heatpressing steps or the like, at the same or at different temperatures.For example, the temperature at a first heat pressing step could behigher or lower than the temperature at a second heat pressing secondstep and so on. In some embodiments, an uppermost layer of glue may beapplied or the first and/or second shoe components 110, 180 may becovered with a thin coating, e.g. a polymer coating.

After this consolidating and/or connecting step, the first and/or thesecond shoe components 110, 180 may be separated from the transportmeans 120. This separation may take place at a further processingstation (not shown) or at the processing station 150.

In certain additional embodiments, the base material of the first shoecomponents 110 may be fused and/or melted, thereby changing theproperties of the first shoe components 110 without necessarilyrequiring incorporation of the second components 180. Such a step may beperformed in addition to or as an alternative to adding andconsolidating the second components 180 with the first shoe components110.

It should generally be noted that the processing stations 130, 140 and150 may also be a single processing station comprising severalsubstations, for example, or at least one processing tool that isselected according to the processing steps to be performed. Moreover,the order of the processing stations 130, 140, 150 and processing stepsmay also be different than described herein.

The separation of the first and/or the second shoe components 110, 180may comprise at least one of the following steps: die cutting, CNCcutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, melting out of a connectingelement and/or dissolving a connecting element. Particularly if thefirst shoe components 110 are produced together with the transport means120, e.g. by weaving, weft knitting or warp knitting, it is possible forthe first shoe components 110 to be, for example, surrounded by a thinfiber or a chemically dissolvable fiber or the like, which is severed ordissolved to separate the components. For this, it may be desirable incertain embodiments for the first shoe components 110 to be connectedwith the transport means 120 by a single fiber, such that this singlefiber may be severed or dissolved to separate the first shoe components110. In certain embodiments, a meltable fiber be used, with the fibermelting at relatively low temperatures, thereby enabling the first shoecomponents 110 to be separated. A relatively low temperature here meansa temperature lower than 100°, lower than 150° or lower than 200°, forexample.

After separation, the first and/or second shoe components 110, 180 maypass through a further processing station (not shown), which is providedto impart a three-dimensional shape to the first shoe components 110and/or second shoe components 180. This step may again be a separateprocessing station or one of the processing stations 130, 140, 150, atwhich at least one of the previous processing steps was alreadyperformed. In the case of a separate processing station, the separatedfirst and/or second shoe components 110, 180 must be moved to thisstation, which may be done either automatically and mechanically ormanually.

In order to facilitate the putting into a three-dimensional shape, itmay be desirable in certain embodiments for the first and/or the secondshoe components 110, 180, as already described further above, tocomprise a shaping element. As already mentioned, this shaping elementmay be a rubber-band element or a spring element, for example, and,after imparting a three-dimensional shape to the first and/or secondshoe components 110, 180, the shaping element may either remain on theworkpiece or be removed. In certain embodiments in which the first shoecomponents 110 constitute at least a partial region of the shoe uppers190, the step of imparting a three-dimensional shape may be accomplishedby closing a seam at the heel, for example, with it also being possibleto position the seam elsewhere as needed or desired. The seam may beclosed by stitching, gluing, welding or any other method. Alternatively,different parts of the shoe uppers 190 may be sewn or welded together toachieve a three-dimensional shape. Strobel boards 195 and/or sole units192, for example, may also be added at this point.

To further facilitate the three-dimensional shaping, the first shoecomponents 110, together with their previously added second shoecomponents 180 if applicable, may be arranged on a last (not shown),particularly when the first shoe components 110 are parts of shoe uppers190. Further parts, for example sole units 192 or Strobel boards 195,may also be added at this stage. In certain embodiments, the last is aninflatable last. Thus a single last may be used for shoes 198 ofdifferent sizes and shapes. It is also possible, for example, that eachor some of the lasts used are milled based on 3D CAD files, to achieve aparticularly good customization of the finished products.

The steps described here for three-dimensional shaping and, whereapplicable, for applying further parts like sole units 192 or Strobelboards 195, may be performed manually or mechanically. Such steps may beperformed, for example, at a processing station (not shown) comprising amounting means, with the mounting means comprising a number of needlesor the like, which interact with defined apertures in the first and/orsecond shoe components 110, 180. As a result, the first and/or secondshoe components 110, 180 may be correctly arranged on the mounting meansbefore imparting a three-dimensional shape and, for example, beforeaddition of further parts like sole units 192 and/or Strobel boards 195takes place.

FIG. 2 shows further embodiments according to the invention or anapparatus for performing a method 200, respectively. For manufacturing aplurality of shoe uppers 290, a plurality of first shoe components 210is first provided, which in the method 200 shown here are part of a shoeupper.

The plurality of first shoe components 210 is moved with a transportmeans 220, which at least partially comprises the plurality of firstshoe components 210. Herein, the transport means 220 may comprise aplurality of flat regions 222, each of which may further comprise atleast one first shoe component 210.

The transport means 220 also comprises a transport belt 225, with thetransport belt 225 comprising a textile base material 225. A person ofordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that the transportmeans 120 may be any suitable conveying device including but not limitedto air tables, gravity roller conveyors, band conveyors, belt conveyors,bucket conveyors, vibrating conveyors, chain conveyors, screw conveyors,robotic arms or the like which grips the workpiece, or other similarmechanical, pneumatic, and/or electrical conveying devices.

In the certain embodiments of the method 200, as shown in FIG. 2, thetransport belt 225 is produced jointly with the first shoe components210 in an apparatus 228 provided for this purpose. As a result,manufacturing within the apparatus 228 may comprise weft knitting, warpknitting, weaving, as well as felting, needle punching, electro-spinningor cross-plying of a source material. Further methods for themanufacture of nonwoven materials are also possible. Joint production ofthe transport belt 225 and first shoe components 210 enables theproduction and provision of the transport belt 225 and the plurality offirst shoe components 210 with the precise properties that are desirablefor the shoe uppers 290.

Herein, the transport means may be solely comprised of the transportbelt 225 together with the first shoe components 210. However, thetransport means 220 may also comprise further components, e.g. a foil orplastic layer, a film, a synthetic composite material, a multilayerlaminate and/or leather or the like (not shown). After manufacture ofthe transport belt 225 together with the first shoe components 210,these additional elements may, for example, be arranged on the transportbelt 225 and/or shoe components 210 and connected, glued, etc., theretoin the apparatus 228.

Incorporating the first shoe components 210 within the transport means220 allows the first shoe components 210 to be very well positioned andmoved along. For this purpose, the transport means 220 and the transportbelt 225 may, for example, be laid over a roller table 215 or anair-bearing stage 215, such that the transport means 220 and thetransport belt 225 do not sag.

In certain embodiments of the method 200, as shown in FIG. 2, thetransport means 220 and the first shoe components 210 pass through aseries of processing stations 230, 240, 241, 250, 251, 260 and 261.

For the processing station 230, the same basic considerations apply asfor the processing station 130, which is shown in FIG. 1.

The processing stations 240 and 241, for which the same basicconsiderations also apply as for the processing station 140 shown inFIG. 1, at least one second shoe component 280, 285 is added to each ofat least a subset of the first shoe components 210. The second shoecomponent 280 may be provided to the processing station 240 via atransport means 281. Similarly, the second shoe component 285 may beprovided to the processing station 241 via a further transport means286. A person of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand thatthe transport means 120 may be any suitable conveying device includingbut not limited to air tables, gravity roller conveyors, band conveyors,belt conveyors, bucket conveyors, vibrating conveyors, chain conveyors,screw conveyors, robotic arms or the like which grips the workpiece, orother similar mechanical, pneumatic, and/or electrical conveyingdevices.

For example, the second shoe components 280 may be elements forreinforcement, whereas the further second shoe components 285 may bestrip elements for decoration.

The statements already made above regarding the design possibilities forthe second shoe components will be referred to in the following here.

After passing through the processing stations 240 and 241, the transportmeans 220 and the first shoe components 210, together with any secondshoe components 280, 285 possibly added, pass through the processingstation 250, which serves the purpose of consolidating and/or connectingthe first and second shoe components 210, 280 and/or 285. The statementsalready made above regarding processing station 150 also applyanalogously here.

The first and second shoe components 210, 280 and 285 are subsequentlyseparated from the transport belt 225 at the processing station 251. Inthis context, the first and second shoe components 210, 280 and 285 mayonly be separated from the transport belt 225, while an underlyingcarrier layer of the transport means 220 remains intact and thus assuresfurther conveyance of the shoe components to the processing stations 260and 261.

Alternatively, the first and second shoe components 210, 280 and 285 mayalso be completely separated, e.g. cut out, but will initially remainwithin the transport belt 225 and the transport means 220 and be furthertransported, “carried along,” as it were, by movement of the transportbelt 225 and/or the transport means 220.

Furthermore, the transport means 220 and the separated first and secondshoe components 210, 280 and 285 pass through the processing stations260 and 261, which are provided to impart a three-dimensional shape tothe shoe components 210, 280, 285. For this purpose, the shoe componentsmay first be removed from the transport belt 225 and the transport means220. Imparting the three-dimensional shape may then involve finishing,stitching or bonding at the heel or the like, for example.

FIG. 3 shows further embodiments 300 of a method according to theinvention for manufacturing a plurality of shoes or an apparatus forperforming such a method. Herein, the method 200 just described may beseen in the left half of the image. Shoe uppers 290 manufactured therebyare now subjected to further processing steps for the manufacture of theplurality of shoes.

For example, the shoe uppers 290 may pass through a number of furtherprocessing stations 310, 330 and 340 and processing steps, along afurther transport means 305, with it also being possible for someprocessing steps to be performed manually. A person of ordinary skill inthe relevant art will understand that the transport means 120 may be anysuitable conveying device including but not limited to air tables,gravity roller conveyors, band conveyors, belt conveyors, bucketconveyors, vibrating conveyors, chain conveyors, screw conveyors,robotic arms or the like which grips the workpiece, or other similarmechanical, pneumatic, and/or electrical conveying devices.

First, the shoe uppers 290 are mounted on lasts 315 at a processingstation 310. This mounting may be done either mechanically or manually,with it also being possible for manual mounting to be supported bymechanical means. In further processing steps, the shoe uppers mountedon the last are provided with an outsole 325. The outsoles 325 may, forexample, be provided via a further transport means 326 to the processingstation 320, which applies an adhesive layer to the outsoles before theoutsoles 325 are arranged on the shoe uppers 290. A person of ordinaryskill in the relevant art will understand that the transport means 120may be any suitable conveying device including but not limited to airtables, gravity roller conveyors, band conveyors, belt conveyors, bucketconveyors, vibrating conveyors, chain conveyors, screw conveyors,robotic arms or the like which grips the workpiece, or other similarmechanical, pneumatic, and/or electrical conveying devices. At a furtherprocessing station 330, setting of the adhesive layer, for example, maybe effected, resulting in a resilient connection between the shoe upper290 and the outsole 325. In some embodiments, the processing station 320may apply a meltable material to the outsoles 325, which is at leastpartially melted and then cooled to form a connection between the shoeupper 290 and the outsole 325.

After the connection between the shoe upper 290 and the outsole 325 isformed, the shoe workpiece is further conveyed to another processingstation 340, at which the last 315 is removed. This step may once againbe done either purely by machine or manually, with it also beingpossible for manual removal to be supported by mechanical means.

After removal of the last, shoes laces 360, for example, may be threadedthrough the shoes, with it being possible for the shoe laces to beprovided by a further transport means 361. A person of ordinary skill inthe relevant art will understand that the transport means 120 may be anysuitable conveying device including but not limited to air tables,gravity roller conveyors, band conveyors, belt conveyors, bucketconveyors, vibrating conveyors, chain conveyors, screw conveyors,robotic arms or the like which grips the workpiece, or other similarmechanical, pneumatic, and/or electrical conveying devices. In FIG. 3,the shoe laces are threaded manually; however, in certain embodiments,the shoe laces may be threaded mechanically.

The shoes thus completed can then be placed into the packaging 370,either mechanically or manually, at a further processing station, withit being possible for the packaging itself to be provided via a furthertransport means 371. A person of ordinary skill in the relevant art willunderstand that the transport means 120 may be any suitable conveyingdevice including but not limited to air tables, gravity rollerconveyors, band conveyors, belt conveyors, bucket conveyors, vibratingconveyors, chain conveyors, screw conveyors, robotic arms or the likewhich grips the workpiece, or other similar mechanical, pneumatic,and/or electrical conveying devices. The completely manufactured andpackaged shoes 380 can then finally be loaded on a further transportmeans that further conveys the packaged shoes 380 either to a warehouseor directly to a store or sales counter.

The packaging 370 may also be customized with each box beingindividually printed, cut, and formed on demand. The customization maybe purely visible in form of names, logos and so on, or may be designedperfectly to fit each shoe, or piece of apparel.

It should be noted here that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3 aremerely examples that are intended to make the invention's potentialobvious to the person skilled in the art. In certain existingembodiments, the precise number, sequence and nature of the individualprocessing steps may also differ from the methods 100, 200 and 300 shownhere.

FIG. 4 shows embodiments of an apparatus 400 for performing certainembodiments of a method according to the invention, e.g. one of themethods shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The apparatus 400 comprises a transport means 420, as well as aplurality of processing stations 430, 440, 450 and 460. A person ofordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that the transportmeans 120 may be any suitable conveying device including but not limitedto air tables, gravity roller conveyors, band conveyors, belt conveyors,bucket conveyors, vibrating conveyors, chain conveyors, screw conveyors,robotic arms or the like which grips the workpiece, or other similarmechanical, pneumatic, and/or electrical conveying devices. Here, thetransport means 420 and the processing stations 430, 440, 450 and 460are arranged in a mobile container 410. The container 410 may also be acombination of multiple containers combined into one production unit.Regarding the design possibilities for the transport means 420 and theprocessing stations 430, 440, 450 and 460, reference is made to thecorresponding statements above.

Here, the mobile container 410 may be at least partially transparent. Inthe present embodiments, the walls of the container 410 may be formed ofglass or Plexiglas or other transparent materials. A shoe 490, which wasmanufactured with various embodiments of the apparatus 400, can also beseen.

The apparatus 400 may also comprise a control means (not shown), whichfacilitates the manufacture of a plurality of different shoes with theapparatus 400 shown. This control means may further comprise aninterface for interaction with at least one future wearer of one of theshoes to be manufactured. This allows a future wearer to individuallyadapt the shoe 490 to be manufactured to their needs.

FIG. 5 shows embodiments of a mobile sales stand 500, with the mobilesales stand 500 comprising at least one apparatus 510 for performingcertain embodiments of a method according to the invention, e.g. one ofthe apparatuses 200, 300 and 400 shown in FIGS. 2-4. Furthermore, FIG. 5shows a sales or consultancy stand 550. For example, at this consultancystand 550, a customer can seek advice about suitable shoe models or thecustomer can individually design a desired shoe model. After designingthe desired shoe model, the production apparatus 510 may, via thecontrol means as described above, for example, be prompted tomanufacture the shoe model designed by the customer.

The mobile sales stand 500 may be used, for example, at trade fairs,major events, sports events, etc. In certain embodiments, the mobilesales stand may be placed in a department store.

Finally, FIG. 6 shows embodiments of a sales room 600 comprising anapparatus 610 for performing certain embodiments of a method accordingto the invention. Apparatus 610 may, for example, be one of theembodiments of an apparatus 200, 300 or 400 discussed in the context ofFIGS. 2-4.

In the following, further examples are described to facilitate theunderstanding of the invention:

-   -   1. Method (100; 200; 300) for the manufacture of a plurality of        shoes (198; 490), which comprises the following steps:        -   a. Providing a plurality of first shoe components (110; 210)            for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes (198; 490);            and        -   b. Moving the plurality of first shoe components (110; 210)            with a transport means (120; 220; 420) which is at least            partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe            components (110; 210).    -   2. Method (100; 200; 300) according to the preceding example,        wherein the transport means (120; 220) comprises flat regions        (122; 222), wherein the flat regions (122; 222) comprise one or        more of the first shoe components (110; 210).    -   3. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding        examples, wherein the transport means (120, 220) comprises a        transport belt.    -   4. Method (100) according to the preceding example, wherein the        transport belt (120) is rolled off a spool (125) which comprises        a plurality of first shoe components (110).    -   5. Method (200) according to one of the preceding examples,        wherein step a. comprises the joint manufacture of the transport        means (220) with the plurality of first shoe components (210).    -   6. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding        examples, wherein the transport means (120; 220) comprises a        textile base material.    -   7. Method (100; 200; 300) according to the preceding example,        wherein the manufacture of the textile base material comprises        the weft knitting, warp knitting, weaving, felting, needle        punching, electro-spinning or cross-plying of a source material.    -   8. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding        examples, wherein the transport means (120; 220) comprises a        base material which comprises a foil, a film, a synthetic        composite, a multilayer laminate and/or leather.    -   9. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding        examples, wherein the transport means (120; 220; 420) passes        through at least one processing station (130; 140; 150; 230;        240; 241; 250; 251; 260; 261; 430; 440; 450; 460) in which the        first shoe components (110; 210) are processed.    -   10. Method (100; 200; 300) according to the preceding example,        wherein in the at least one processing station (130; 230) at        least one of the following processing steps is performed: screen        printing, digital printing, dye sublimation, sublimation        printing, pad printing, spraying on color, applying at least one        color-changing material, applying at least one foil element,        impregnating with a material, coating with a material, applying        at least one glue, flocking, laser cutting, laser engraving,        embroidering, thermoforming, locally melting, locally fusing,        embossing, laser etching, perfing.    -   11. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the two preceding        examples, wherein to each of a subset of the first shoe        components (110; 210), the at least one processing station (140;        240; 241) adds at least one second shoe component (180; 280;        285).    -   12. Method (100; 200; 300) according to the preceding example,        wherein the at least one second shoe component (180; 280; 285)        comprises one or more of the following shoe elements: eyelets,        heel caps, toe caps, decoration elements, decoration stripes,        friction elements, abrasion protection elements, rib elements,        reinforcement elements, stiffening elements, supporting        elements, cushioning elements, fiber elements.    -   13. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the two preceding        examples, wherein the at least one processing station (150; 250)        is provided to connect the second shoe components (180; 280;        285) with the respective first shoe components (110; 210) by one        or more of the following steps: gluing, welding, high frequency        welding, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, pressing, sewing,        screwing, riveting, melting together, clipping together,        sealing, subjecting to a heat and pressure treatment, subjecting        to a steaming treatment.    -   14. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding        examples 9-13, wherein the at least one processing station (251)        is provided to separate the first and/or second shoe components        from the transport means.    -   15. Method (100; 200; 300) according to the preceding example,        wherein the separating comprises one or more of the following        steps: die cutting, CNC cutting, laser cutting, water jet        cutting, melting out of a connecting element, dissolving a        connecting element.    -   16. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding        examples 9-15, wherein the at least one processing station (260;        261) is provided to put the first (110; 210) and/or second shoe        components (180; 280; 285) into a three-dimensional shape.    -   17. Method (100; 200; 300) according to the preceding example,        wherein the first (110; 210) and/or second shoe components (180;        280; 285) comprise a shaping element which is provided to        facilitate the generation of the three-dimensional shape.    -   18. Method (300) according to one of the two preceding examples,        wherein the putting into three-dimensional shape comprises        arranging the first shoe components (110; 210), together with        their respective second shoe components (180; 280; 285) if        present, on a respective last (315) each.    -   19. Method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the preceding        examples, wherein the first shoe components (110; 210) comprise        at least a part of a shoe upper (190; 290).    -   20. Apparatus (200; 300; 400; 510; 610), provided to perform a        method (100; 200; 300) according to one of the examples 1-19.    -   21. Apparatus (200; 300; 400; 510; 610) according to the        preceding example, further comprising a control means for the        manufacture of different shoes (198; 490) with a method (100;        200; 300) according to one of the examples 1-19.    -   22. Apparatus (200; 300; 400; 510; 610) according to the        preceding example, wherein the control means comprises an        interface for interaction with a future wearer of one of the        plurality of shoes (198; 490).    -   23. Apparatus (400; 510) according to one of the three preceding        examples, wherein the apparatus (400; 510) is arranged inside a        movable container (410; 500).    -   24. Apparatus (400) according to the preceding example, wherein        the movable container (410) is at least partially transparent.    -   25. Shoe (198; 490), wherein the shoe (198; 490) has been        manufactured by use of a method (100; 200; 300) according to one        of the examples 1-19.

Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings ordescribed above, as well as components and steps not shown or describedare possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are usefuland may be employed without reference to other features andsub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described forillustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodimentswill become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the presentinvention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depictedin the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the claims below.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A method for the manufacture of a pluralityof shoes, the method comprising: providing an automatically-driventransport belt comprising a knit material defining a plurality of flatregions that include at least a first flat region and a second flatregion, the knit material further at least partially defining aplurality of primary shoe components for the manufacture of theplurality of shoes, wherein each of the plurality of primary shoecomponents comprise at least a part of a shoe upper, wherein theplurality of primary shoe components includes at least a first primaryshoe component that is configured for a first shoe model and that isincorporated into the first flat region, wherein the plurality ofprimary shoe components further includes at least a second primary shoecomponent that is configured for a second shoe model and that isincorporated into the second flat region, the second shoe model beingdifferent from the first shoe model; passing the automatically-driventransport belt through at least one first processing station comprisingat least one first automated robotic system for adding secondary shoecomponents to the primary shoe components; processing at least a subsetof the plurality of primary shoe components in the at least one firstprocessing station by at least: adding a first secondary shoe componentto the first primary shoe component of the first flat region of the knitmaterial of the transport belt through automated operation of the atleast one first automated robotic system; and adding a second secondaryshoe component to the second primary shoe component of the second flatregion of the knit material of the transport belt through automatedoperation of the at least one first automated robotic system, whereinthe second secondary shoe component is different than the firstsecondary shoe component based on the second shoe model being differentfrom the first shoe model; passing the automatically-driven transportbelt through at least one second processing station comprising at leastone second automated robotic system for connecting the secondary shoecomponents to the primary shoe components by welding; processing atleast a subset of the plurality of primary shoe components in the atleast one second processing station by at least: connecting the firstsecondary shoe component to the first primary shoe component of thefirst flat region of the knit material of the transport belt by weldingthrough automated operation of the at least one second automated roboticsystem; and connecting the second secondary shoe component to the secondprimary shoe component of the second flat region of the knit material ofthe transport belt by welding through automated operation of the atleast one second automated robotic system wherein the first secondaryshoe component is connected to the first primary shoe component by firstwelding that is different than second welding by which the secondsecondary shoe component is connected to the second primary shoecomponent based on the second shoe model being different from the firstshoe model; and providing the plurality of shoes, wherein at least oneof the plurality of shoes comprises a first shoe corresponding to thefirst shoe model and formed at least in part from the first primary shoecomponent automatically welded together with the first secondary shoecomponent, and wherein at least another of the plurality of shoescomprises a second shoe corresponding to the second shoe model andformed at least in part from the second primary shoe componentautomatically welded together with the second secondary shoe component.2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the secondary shoecomponents comprise at least one of an eyelet, heel cap, toe cap,decoration element, decoration stripe, friction element, abrasionprotection element, rib element, reinforcement element, stiffeningelement, supporting element, cushioning element, or fiber element. 3.The method according to claim 1, further comprising separating at leastthe subset of the plurality of primary shoe components from thetransport belt by performing at least one of the following processingsteps: die cutting, CNC cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting,melting out of a connecting element, or dissolving a connecting element.4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming theplurality of primary shoe components into three-dimensional shapes,wherein the plurality of primary shoe components each comprise a shapingelement configured to facilitate forming each of the plurality ofprimary shoe components into the three-dimensional shape, whereinforming each of the plurality of primary shoe components into thethree-dimensional shape comprises arranging each of the plurality ofprimary shoe components on a respective last.
 5. A method for themanufacture of a plurality of shoes, the method comprising: providing anautomatically-driven transport belt comprising a knit material defininga plurality of flat regions that include at least a first flat regionand a second flat region, the knit material further at least partiallydefining a plurality of primary shoe components for the manufacture ofthe plurality of shoes, wherein each of the plurality of primary shoecomponents comprise at least a part of a shoe sole, wherein theplurality of primary shoe components includes at least a first primaryshoe component that is configured for a first shoe model and that isincorporated into the first flat region, wherein the plurality ofprimary shoe components further includes at least a second primary shoecomponent that is configured for a second shoe model and that isincorporated into the second flat region, the second shoe model beingdifferent from the first shoe model; passing the automatically-driventransport belt through at least one first processing station comprisingat least one first automated robotic system for adding secondary shoecomponents to the primary shoe components; processing at least a subsetof the plurality of primary shoe components in the at least one firstprocessing station by at least: adding a first secondary shoe componentto the first primary shoe component of the first flat region of the knitmaterial of the transport belt through automated operation of the atleast one first automated robotic system; and adding a second secondaryshoe component to the second primary shoe component of the second flatregion of the knit material of the transport belt through automatedoperation of the at least one first automated robotic system, whereinthe second secondary shoe component is different than the firstsecondary shoe component based on the second shoe model being differentfrom the first shoe model; passing the automatically-driven transportbelt through at least one second processing station comprising at leastone second automated robotic system for connecting the secondary shoecomponents to the primary shoe components by welding; processing atleast a subset of the plurality of primary shoe components in the atleast one second processing station by at least: connecting the firstsecondary shoe component to the first primary shoe component of thefirst flat region of the knit material of the transport belt by weldingthrough automated operation of the at least one second automated roboticsystem; and connecting the second secondary shoe component to the secondprimary shoe component of the second flat region of the knit material ofthe transport belt by welding through automated operation of the atleast one second automated robotic system wherein the first secondaryshoe component is connected to the first primary shoe component by firstwelding that is different than second welding by which the secondsecondary shoe component is connected to the second primary shoecomponent based on the second shoe model being different from the firstshoe model; and providing the plurality of shoes, wherein at least oneof the plurality of shoes comprises a first shoe corresponding to thefirst shoe model and formed at least in part from the first primary shoecomponent automatically welded together with the first secondary shoecomponent, and wherein at least another of the plurality of shoescomprises a second shoe corresponding to the second shoe model andformed at least in part from the second primary shoe componentautomatically welded together with the second secondary shoe component.6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the secondary shoecomponents comprise at least one of an eyelet, heel cap, toe cap,decoration element, decoration stripe, friction element, abrasionprotection element, rib element, reinforcement element, stiffeningelement, supporting element, cushioning element, or fiber element. 7.The method according to claim 5, further comprising separating at leastthe subset of the plurality of primary shoe components from thetransport belt by performing at least one of the following processingsteps: die cutting, CNC cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting,melting out of a connecting element, or dissolving a connecting element.8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising forming theplurality of primary shoe components into three-dimensional shapes,wherein the plurality of primary shoe components each comprise a shapingelement configured to facilitate forming each of the plurality ofprimary shoe components into the three-dimensional shape, whereinforming each of the plurality of primary shoe components into thethree-dimensional shape comprises arranging each of the plurality ofprimary shoe components on a respective last.
 9. A method for themanufacture of a plurality of shoes, the method comprising: providing anautomatically-driven transport belt comprising a knit material defininga plurality of regions that include at least a first region and a secondregion, the knit material further at least partially defining aplurality of primary shoe components for the manufacture of theplurality of shoes, wherein the plurality of primary shoe componentsincludes at least a first primary shoe component that is configured fora first shoe model and that is incorporated into the first region,wherein the plurality of primary shoe components further includes atleast a second primary shoe component that is configured for a secondshoe model and that is incorporated into the second region, the secondshoe model being different from the first shoe model; passing theautomatically-driven transport belt through at least one firstprocessing station comprising at least one first automated roboticsystem for adding secondary shoe components to the primary shoecomponents; processing at least a subset of the plurality of primaryshoe components in the at least one first processing station by atleast: adding a first secondary shoe component to the first primary shoecomponent of the first region of the knit material of the transport beltthrough automated operation of the at least one first automated roboticsystem; and adding a second secondary shoe component to the secondprimary shoe component of the second region of the knit material of thetransport belt through automated operation of the at least one firstautomated robotic system; passing the automatically-driven transportbelt through at least one second processing station comprising at leastone second automated robotic system for connecting the secondary shoecomponents to the primary shoe components by welding; processing atleast a subset of the plurality of primary shoe components in the atleast one second processing station by at least: connecting the firstsecondary shoe component to the first primary shoe component of thefirst region of the knit material of the transport belt by weldingthrough automated operation of the at least one second automated roboticsystem; and connecting the second secondary shoe component to the secondprimary shoe component of the second region of the knit material of thetransport belt by welding through automated operation of the at leastone second automated robotic system; and providing the plurality ofshoes, wherein at least one of the plurality of shoes comprises a firstshoe corresponding to the first shoe model and formed at least in partfrom the first primary shoe component automatically welded together withthe first secondary shoe component, and wherein at least another of theplurality of shoes comprises a second shoe corresponding to the secondshoe model and formed at least in part from the second primary shoecomponent automatically welded together with the second secondary shoecomponent.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each of theplurality of primary shoe components comprise at least a part of a shoeupper.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein each of theplurality of primary shoe components comprise at least a part of a shoesole.
 12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising processingat least some of the subset of the plurality of first shoe components inat least one processing station by at least one automated robotic systemperforming at least one of the following processing steps: screenprinting, digital printing, dye sublimation, sublimation printing, padprinting, spraying on color, applying at least one color-changingmaterial, applying at least one foil element, impregnating with amaterial, coating with a material, applying at least one glue, flocking,laser cutting, laser engraving, embroidering, thermoforming, locallymelting, locally fusing, embossing, laser etching, or perfing.
 13. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the secondary shoe componentscomprise at least one of an eyelet, heel cap, toe cap, decorationelement, decoration stripe, friction element, abrasion protectionelement, rib element, reinforcement element, stiffening element,supporting element, cushioning element, or fiber element.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising separating at least the subsetof the plurality of primary shoe components from the transport belt. 15.The method according to claim 14, wherein separating at least the subsetof the plurality of first shoe components from the transport beltcomprises performing at least one of the following processing steps: diecutting, CNC cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, melting out of aconnecting element, or dissolving a connecting element.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising forming the plurality ofprimary shoe components into three-dimensional shapes.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 16, wherein the plurality of primary shoe componentseach comprise a shaping element configured to facilitate forming each ofthe plurality of primary shoe components into the three-dimensionalshape.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein forming each of theplurality of primary shoe components into the three-dimensional shapecomprises arranging each of the plurality of primary shoe components ona respective last.
 19. The method according to claim 9, wherein thefirst primary shoe component has a first shape, wherein the secondprimary shoe component has a second shape, and wherein the first shapeand the second shape are different from one another based on the secondshoe model being different from the first shoe model.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the welding comprises high frequencywelding, ultrasonic welding, or laser welding; or wherein the secondsecondary shoe component is different than the first secondary shoecomponent based on the second shoe model being different from the firstshoe model, wherein the first secondary shoe component is connected tothe first primary shoe component by first welding that is different thansecond welding by which the second secondary shoe component is connectedto the second primary shoe component based on the second shoe modelbeing different from the first shoe model.